M’s let Ramirez down in 4-1 loss to Rays

SEATTLE (AP) — Erasmo Ramirez doesn’t usually have to be on top of his game to earn a win.

On Sunday, Ramirez was at his best, but it still didn’t matter

The young right-hander gave the Mariners a nearly spotless performance, but it was not enough as the Tampa Bay Rays came from behind for a 4-1 win over Seattle.

Ramirez entered the contest with just over six runs of support per game, the highest among all Mariners starters this season. He made do with just one run into the seventh inning Sunday, but the bullpen couldn’t preserve the stellar start as the Rays scored three times in the eighth off reliever Yoervis Medina (4-5).

After the combination of Ramirez and reliever Charlie Furbush delivered a 1-0 lead to the back end of the Seattle bullpen, Tampa Bay scored three times in the eighth.

Evan Longoria was hit by a pitch from Medina to start the frame and Luke Scott walked. James Loney followed with a tying double that landed just inside the right-field line.

Sean Rodriguez, hitting for Matt Joyce, stepped into the box and singled sharply up the middle off new reliever Oliver Perez to score Scott. Loney also came home when center fielder Abraham Almonte bobbled the ball for an error.

The loss spoiled what would have been Ramirez’s sixth win of the season. The righty scattered four hits and worked around four walks before he was lifted after the first two runners reached in the seventh. After issuing a walk, Furbush escaped a bases-loaded situation unscathed with a double play and fly out.

“I thought Erasmo was good,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. “I loved his aggressiveness early in the game and he was able to hang on to it and sustain it.”

Kendrys Morales led off the Seattle second with his 20th homer of the season and 99th of his career. It was just one of five hits the Mariners were able to record.

Seattle was 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

Brad Miller accounted for two hits, singling in his first two at-bats. Miller’s 53 hits are good for second most among rookies since the All-Star break.

The Rays desperately needed the win, as they now head back to Tampa Bay after a miserable 3-7 West Coast swing. The Rays lead Baltimore and Cleveland, who both lost, by two games for the second AL wild-card spot.

Jake McGee (4-3) got two outs and the win. Fernando Rodney closed for his 33rd save in 41 chances.

The Rays picked up an insurance run in the ninth on an RBI double by Desmond Jennings, but still left the bases loaded.

Tampa Bay also squandered a chance with the bags full in the seventh, as pinch-hitter Delmon Young grounded into a double play and Ben Zobrist flew out to end the frame without putting a run on the board.